Prison was highest fundraiser for Relay for Life

Staff members from a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility recently helped drive donations for charitable causes.

On April 13, Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP-RC) held its annual Warden’s Charity Golf Tournament at the Stockdale Country Club in Bakersfield. The event sold out again this year with 37 teams to include players from multiple institutions, law enforcement agencies and the private sector.

Generous contributions from donors provide the financial support needed to continue WSP-RC’s mission of assisting charities and the less fortunate in the surrounding community by way of food drives, gift donations and various other functions sponsored by the institution, according to organizers.

The event raised $14,000 of which, $7,000 was donated to Relay for Life. The remaining $7,000 will be utilized to assist various local charities in and around the Wasco area.

On April 25, 2015, Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP-RC) participated in the Wasco/Shafter Relay for Life hosted by Wasco Union High School.

The festivities started at 10 a.m. and ended at 7 a.m. the following day. The event included a host of entertainment such as live music from the Wasco Union High School band, as well as various other bands and performances from children’s dance groups. The event also included a variety of charity booths including one from WSP-RC. The institutional staff held opportunity drawings for gift baskets at the event. The baskets were assembled and donated by different institutional departments.

WSP-RC was able to raise $17,249.95 during the year leading up to and during Relay for Life event. WSP-RC was the highest fundraiser at the event. The funds were raised through food sales, the Warden’s Charity Golf Tournament and chance drawings. Additionally, the inmates at WSP-RC were able to raise $533 in food sales and $61 by way of donations for the relay cupcake cards.

What is Relay for Life?

It is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk in which teams of people camp out around a track, often at a local school or park.

“Members of each team take turns walking around the track. Food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie. (It is a) family-friendly environment for the entire community. Because it’s a team event, individual participants are not required to be there the entire time,” the organization’s website states.

“Each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life movement,” the website states.

According to the American Cancer Society, “in 2015, there will be an estimated 1,658,370 new cancer cases diagnosed and 589,430 cancer deaths in the US.”

(Editor’s note: Some websites may not be accessible from a CDCR computer.)